William Wesley Jones Jr., affectionately known as "Bj", was born in Mount Vernon, New York on February 18, 1943, to the late William Wesley Jones and Alma Myers Jones. The family lived in Connecticut until they moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1956. BJ, known as "Bill" to his classmates and friends, attended the Cleveland Public Schools, from the age of 13.  At the age of 17, while attending John Adams High School, he met Marva McAfee and dated her for several years until they both graduated from high school in the same class.

Bill attended Tennessee State University where he majored in Mechanical Engineering. In 1962, he was initiated into the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He met and married the late Burnetta Jones (same last name), the mother of his daughters, Bianca, Monica and Ariana. When that union ended, Bill married Diana Little and adopted her son, Sean. He worked in Corporate America as a Software Engineer for many years.

Diana nicknamed Bill "Bj" (for Bill Jones) and he liked that nickname so much, he decided to keep it. He was known as "Bj" for the rest of his life. Bj and Diana moved to North Carolina and became active members of the Central Church of God. He served in the Children's Ministry headed by Pastor Bill Mauck. That creative ministry used puppets to teach children about Jesus. BJ's puppet, known as "Bahama Bob," taught and delighted children for many years. Also, during that time, Bj and Diana went on a Missions Trip to the Bahamas, traveling by sailboat with Pastor Bill, his wife, and other church members. Their goal was to build puppet ministries in Bahamian churches. This trip also began Bj's passion for sailing. After the Mission Trip, he took sailing lessons, and his love for all things nautical took off!

Diana and Bj were married 24 years until she passed away in 1998 at the age of 50. In 1999, Bj was asked to be a Captain on a Catamaran in the British Virgin Islands as part of a group called the Black Boaters Summit, headed by the late Paul Mixon. He loved it! Later that year, Bj visited Cleveland and contacted his old friend and classmate, Marva. The two rekindled their high school romance and got married June 25, 2000, in Cleveland.

Bj took Marva on her first sailing trip in August of 2000. The waters of the BVI and the fun and exhilaration of being with fellow sailors from all over the country, made Bj and Marva love this vacation. They sailed with the BBS for many years and met lifelong friends. Several smaller groups formed from the original BBS group after Paul Mixon passed. Bj became a Captain with the group "Nauti by Nature" headed by Craig Martin from Maryland. Bj Captained boats in the Bahamas, the Abaco Islands and in the BVI. He was excited and delighted that this year, 2023, for the first time, both his brother, Rick, and his sister, Jackie, were on the sail, too!  Also, on the sail were Marva, Rick's wife, Pearl, Marva's son, Dorian, and two dear Palm Coast friends, Chenita Johnson and Brenda Angrum.

William (Bj) Jones was very active in the Palm Coast Community. He and Marva joined the Palm Coast United Methodist Church where he served as head of the Board of Trustees and member of the Chancel Choir for many years. When the Voices of Faith Gospel Choir was formed, Bj and Marva joined. Bj derived great pleasure singing with the bass section! He also served as VOF Choir President and planned and executed the purchase of matching blue shirts for all VOF members.

Another organization dear to Bj's heart was the Motown and Mo Show. He became a member of the cast under the leadership of the late Carlos Butler. The Motown and Mo Show has entertained the Palm Coast and surrounding communities for over 20 years. Bj performed as Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, and as a member of several groups such as The Dells, Sam and Dave, and The Manhattans. He was also a member of the parent organization and sponsor of Motown and Mo—City Lites, Inc. He served on the Board of Directors, was Treasurer, and served as Assistant Director of the show.

Members of the Motown cast became an extended family to Bj and Marva. They traveled together on cruises, entertained in each other's homes, and spent countless hours enjoying each other's company.

Bj enjoyed being part of other groups such as the Eagles Golf Group, the Thursday Lunch Bunch, and the African American Cultural Society. He considered himself an "Honorary Honey-do" with his wife, Marva's, chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Chi Delta Omega. He served by being their official photographer at many events and even made spaghetti and brought it to their retreat at the Hammock Beach Golf Resort.

William Wesley Jones, Jr. (Bj),  was preceded in death by his parents William Wesley Jones and Alma Myers Jones. He departed this life on July 14, 2023, in Peebles Hospital in Roadtown, Tortola, BVI, where he went on his last sailing trip.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Marva; three daughters, Bianca (Jesse) Harris of Hudson, Ohio, Monica (Darrell) Collins of Streetsboro, Ohio, and Ariana Stewart of Sagamore Hills, Ohio; a son, Sean Jones; bonus sons, James McMillan of Miami, FL,  Dorian McMillan of Brooklyn, NY;  bonus daughter, Heather McMillan of Cleveland, Ohio; mother-in-law, Blanche London; brother,  Richard (Pearl) Jones;  sister,  Jacqueline Robinson,  seven grandchildren and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. As he had requested in life, he was cremated and his cremains will be spread in the sea he loved—the waters of the Caribbean—at a later date.

A special tribute will be conducted by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 19th at Palm Coast United Methodist Church, Palm Coast, FL.  A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 19th at Palm Coast United Methodist Church, 5200 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast, FL. Dr. Kevin M. James, Sr. will be the eulogist.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of Bj's favorite organizations:
City Lites, Inc., P.O. Box 352942, Palm Coast, FL 32135.  Donations will be used for scholarships to deserving high school graduates who plan to major in the Arts.

The Voices of Faith Choir, Palm Coast United Methodist Church, 5200 Belle Terre Blvd., Palm Coast, FL 32137. Donations will be used for shirts and other needs for the choir.